It was the day the pubs ran dry and it provided the backdrop to Max Boyce’s iconic anthem ‘9-3’.

Has a rugby score-line ever been more woven into Welsh rugby folklore on a day when, in Max’s own lyrics ‘the shops were closed like Sunday and the streets were silent still. And those who chose to stay away were either dead or ill’.

But wipe away the misty-eyed sentiment from that dank October afternoon and closer scrutiny would tell us this was not the all-conquering All Blacks of old or even recent times.

They also lost on that tour to North Western Counties, Midland Counties (West), that epic encounter with the Barbarians and drew with Munster. In the Test arena New Zealand beat Wales, Scotland and England, drew with Ireland and lost to France.

On that score it could be argued Newport’s 3-0 victory over the New Zealanders in 1963 was of far greater significance given they inflicted the only loss in 36 matches on Wilson Whineray’s side, with Scotland managing a draw that tour.

And on his return to Auckland Airport it was said the first question from the awaiting press corps to Whineray was: “What happened at Newport.”

While the Black & Ambers had their memorable day in the rugby limelight, when it comes to Llanelli, was their 1992 victory over the Wallabies, who just 12 months earlier were crowned world champions at Twickenham, a greater achievement than their predecessors 20 years earlier?

15: Roger Davies (1972) v Huw Williams (1992)

Davies was a safe pair of hands as Llanelli’s last line of defence and despite being a lesser light in a team of big names, and even bigger characters, rarely let the side down. Could also goal-kick but with Phil Bennett and Andy Hill in the side had to play third fiddle. Williams was also one of the players you would struggle to name in the side that beat the reigning world champions but as Max Boyce would say can justifiably proclaim ‘I was there’.

Ieuan Evans celebrates after scoring the crucial try against the 1992 touring Australians at Stradey Park

14: JJ Williams v Ieuan Evans

Two octane-fulled wings with JJ often relying on his sheer pace coming from an athletics background to find his way to the try-line while Ieuan was a little more of a side-stepper with dancing feet to earn a ‘10 from Len’ on Strictly Come Dancing.

Williams 9 Evans 9

13: Roy Bergiers v Simon Davies

Two contrasting centres. Bergiers was the hero of 1972 after his chargedown of Kiwi scrum-half Lindsey Colling’s punt to touch, while Davies would be your midfielder perfectly suited for the modern game with brawn to back up some lung-busting charges into opposition territory.

His dummy run helped pave the way for Ieuan Evans’ try in 1992.

Bergiers 8 Davies 7

Llanelli legend Ray Gravell

12: Ray Gravell v Nigel Davies

Revered in Welsh rugby and rightly so, Grav had Scarlet blood running through his veins and took that passion for life at Stradey onto the international stage with 23 caps in a golden period for Wales as well as four caps on the 1980 tour to South Africa.

Davies was more of a ghosting centre in the Philippe Sella mould, relying on spotting gaps and nimble footwork to prise open opposing defences.

10: Phil Bennett v Colin Stephens

A true legend of the game with a side-step that deserved protected status from poor imitations, Benny would go on to be thorn in the All Blacks side later on that tour igniting THAT try for Gareth Edwards with his snake-hipped run from the Barbarians 22 in Cardiff.

Stephens proved good things do come in small packages being the forerunner for the likes of Shane Williams and Matthew Morgan to strut their stuff on the Test stage.

His two drop-goals against the Wallabies that day was typical of the impish way he played his rugby.

Bennett 10 Stephens 8

Ray 'Chico' Hopkins in action against the All Blacks

9: Ray ‘Chico’ Hopkins v Rupert Moon

Hopkins must be rated as one of the unluckiest players in Welsh rugby as ‘Chico’ plied his trade in the Gareth Edwards era though in his 20 minutes of international fame he earned ever-lasting place in folklore in 1970 coming off the Welsh bench against England by setting up a try for JPR Williams and scoring one himself as his team ran out 17-13 winners.

He also had one replacement appearance off the bench for Edwards for the ‘71 Lions in New Zealand.

Moon meanwhile was a key figure for Llanelli in 1992 against the Wallabies, his sweeping pass to Stephens helping set up Ieuan Evans for the defining try.

Hopkins 8 Moon 7

1: Tony Crocker v Ricky Evans

Crocker was one of the unsung heroes of the Llanelli pack in the 70s.

He did his job with the minimum of fuss and was the workmanlike front-rower even club side needs.

Evans played 19 times for Wales between 1993-95 before injury cut short his career. History was made in the French courts when Evans sued Olivier Merle the French lock who had caused his ankle injury through foul play.

Crocker 7 Evans 7

2: Roy Thomas v Andrew Lamerton

‘Shunto’ Thomas is another totem of Llanelli rugby, his misfortune having been to have featured in an era when Bobby Windsor ruled supreme, and before him Jeff Young.

Thomas received a President’s cap last year after featuring for Wales against Tonga in 1974.

Lamerton was an all-action dynamic No.2 whose career was hampered by a serious car crash. Capped five times by Wales.

Thomas 9 Lamerton 8

3: Barry Llewellyn v Laurence Delaney

Llewellyn earned five caps while with Newport and a further eight after rejoining Llanelli in the 1970-71 season.

Standing 6ft 2in and weighing in over 16 stone, Llewellyn took some shifting in the set-piece.

Delaney cut cult-figure status down at Stradey in the late 80s and early 90s, winning 11 caps in all and being a member of the 1991 World Cup squad.

Llewellyn 7 Delaney 8

Skipper Delme Thomas is chaired from the pitch after their victory over the All Blacks

4: Delme Thomas v Phil Davies

Thomas’ role in the 9-3 triumph has been woven into the Llanelli fabric.

His off the cuff captain’s speech inspired his side and moved many to tears when he told them they were playing for their mothers and fathers, their wives and children, their girlfriends, their friends, for the town and for the club.

The celebrations as he was chaired shoulder-high off the pitch afterwards remain the iconic image of that day.

Davies won 46 caps for Wales, coached the Scarlets from 2006-08 and was equally at home in the back and second-rows.

5: Derek Quinnell v Tony Copsey

The Quinnell dynasty have been a part of the Llanelli DNA since dad Derek first played in 1967.

His three sons, Scott, Craig and Gavin went on to play top-flight professional rugby, with Craig winning caps for Wales in rugby union and Scott earning Wales caps in both union and league.

Copsey was the Essex boy who turned out for Llanelli and then Wales on residency rules, helping his adopted country win the Five Nations trophy in 1994.

Quinnell 8 Copsey 7

Llanelli's 1972 heroes JJ. Williams, Tommy David, Roy Bergiers, and Phil Bennett were all part of the Lions' 1974 tour to South Africa

6: Tommy David v Mark Perego

A real clash of the Titans...you would pay good money to see this pair lock horns these days, with Tommy the ball in hand knock ‘em down like skittles flanker and Perego the man with a tackle that could fell a rampaging Rhino.

Tom ‘the Bomb’ had two spells with Pontypridd between four seasons at Stradey and earned caps in league and union while Winchester-born fireman Perego had nine caps between 1990-94.

David 8 Perego 8

7: Gareth Jenkins v Lyn Jones

One of the most courageous flankers ever to play at Stradey Park, Jenkins went down in the club annals for coaching as much as his exploits in the back-row.

He figured for Wales against Japan in Tokyo in 1975, but no caps were awarded.

Jones cut a different figure at No.7 being a link man and creator. His size dictated he was never going to slug it out with the back-row grizzlers around those days.

Jenkins 8 Jones 8

Emyr Lewis drives through the Australian defence

8: Hefin Jenkins v Emyr Lewis

Jenkins made more than 400 appearances for Llanelli and played for the Wales B side. He was a member of the Scarlets board of directors before passing away in January, 2014, aged 63.

‘Tarw’ Lewis lived up to his nickname, with bullocking runs from the base of the set-piece for Llanelli and Wales. Played 41 times for his country from 1991-96.